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His unexpected request caught me off guard, and for a moment, I was too surprised to answer. As I looked around the room, my eyes fell on Kaston, and I felt a pang of sadness in my chest. But before I could dwell on it, Caine's hand on mine drew my attention back to him.
“He’s busy with Cressida.” His fingers squeezed mine as he said, “I care, because Kaston likes to throw tantrums. I like to see him get flustered and angry. I care because I’ve seen you before. But I did not know your name. I care because.. . . Truthfully? I can see the pain in your eyes. He hurt you. I will not ask you what he did. That is your secret, but please give me the chance to show you that not all of us are evil.”
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should accept his offer. But before I could make a decision I found myself nodding once. He took my hand and led me to the dance floor, where couples had already paired up. The music was lively, and I soon found myself caught up in the rhythm, moving in time with Caine.
As we danced, I felt a smile spread across my face. It was a brief moment of happiness, a reprieve from the struggles of my life. Caine led me through the steps, his eyes focused on me as he twirled me out and pulled me back in.
In that moment, I caught sight of Kaston watching us from across the room. His eyes were filled with madness and loathing, directed at his brother. I felt my neck grow warm under his gaze, and I knew that I was nothing more than a plaything in their twisted rivalry. As he pulled me back in, catching my hand again. I tried to excuse myself once more from his presence.
“Stay.”
“I will not be used,” I hissed under my breath. “Not between the two of you. I do not know you and you do not know me. Nor do I trust you.”
Too trusting, too trusting of this man. Pulling away from him, my steps were quick as I headed towards the doors, my mind set on escape. But it was cut short as a hand reached out and grabbed my own- the grip tight and unyielding- before yanking me backwards into a hard chest. I looked up at the face of the man who had pulled me back into the dance. My stomach dropped as his eyes met mine.
I could feel the anger emanating from him as he spoke. “I warned you once,” he growled in my ear. “Stay away from Caine.”
The music swelled around us, the dancers twirled and spun in a blur of colors and movement. My heart raced as I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened. “If you cannot listen, Serra,” he continued, his voice low and menacing, “then you leave me no other choice. . .”
“Is this another game for you, Kaston? See how far you can go this time? You’ll lose. You cannot have everything.”
He snickered, “My dear, I don’t need to lose. I’ve already won. It’s as easy as laying a false rumor about you, keeping other men away. You see, men are simple love, we don’t want spoiled goods. We don’t want what someone has already had. You though, I’ve already had a taste of you. I’ve taken you myself, you so freely offered it to me last time. And I’ve rather enjoyed myself, so to me you are mine, and always have been. Having you again. . . well Serra, that makes me a very lucky man.”
A lucky man.
I did not know in what world he thought that I would just bow down before him. The thought that lingered in his mind that he had some claim on me. But I knew that Kaston was not going to let me go.
Not here, not ever.
A spoiled child with a bad temper, throwing a tantrum until he got what he wanted. AndIwas what he wanted,Iwas what he was after. I was not going to play his game, I was done with this man. I tried to yank my hands from his grip, to get away, but he held tight.
“Let go, Kaston.”
He stared at me, his expression was lethal as he pulled me closer to him. He did not say a word, not as we spun about the room with the dancers. Not as I looked for Cressida, Caine, Lady Conwell, anyone to save me. They had disappeared in the swarm of people. Leaving me here with him.
Oh, do I wish someone would save me from this man.
His breath was hot in my ear, his scent invaded my nose as every one of my senses screamed. Kaston’s hand on my lower back caused the skin there to burn under his touch. His fingers squeezed my hand, hard. “You will let me in tonight. You hear me? Enough of this. There is no more room for you to fight me. You will yield.”
I could not see his face, but I knew his eyes simmered with anger, the promise of violence if I did not comply. The feeling I’d felt earlier returned. The feeling of being watched. The hair along my arms stood on end, my neck and ears warmed under a hot wave of unease. The feeling made my mouth go dry.A voice echoed behind me, smooth as honey. Carnal and caressing.
“My turn.”
Kaston’s muscles tensed as the intruder stopped behind me. “Shove off.”
The man let out a low growl, deep and minacious, the vibrations of it radiated. I could feel it deep within my chest as my heart pounded. It however caused Kaston to stop, his eyes going wide as he was forced to retreat back to Cressida. I watched him weave his way through the people and dancers. Her face was warm and welcoming as he approached, but her eyes found mine; a promise as she glared. The threat in them and I felt all too relieved at his departure.
“Are you enjoying the party, Serra?”
The sound of his voice caused another shiver to run down my spine. I turned to look up at my rescuer. His face remained obscured by a black mask. But his eyes were visible, one almost like ice and one green as emerald. His white-blonde hair fell around his face. His lips pulled back in a smile to reveal two sharp canines. My instincts told me to run. To get away.
Involuntarily, I searched for Caine, for safety.
I don’t know why I did so, not after dismissing myself so rudely. But the newcomer’s eyes caught my attention again, his eyes were. . . familiar. I’d seen them before. Like a ghost haunting my mind.I’d seen him before, the gentleman from the tavern. He pulled me into a dance, the warmth of his hands in mine. The heat that radiated off of him was comforting. As if I’d known him my whole life. The nagging feeling that would not let its grip on me go.
How did I know this man, who was he?
It only took a few short seconds for something to trigger. His scent was the key to unlock what I had forgotten. For the memory to surface from a time in a garden. My garden, weeks ago. A Fae male standing before me in a cloud of smoke and shadows. White blonde hair and mismatched eyes. His smile grew as understanding dawned on me, as the lapse in my memory filled. Another break opening up the floodgates that were already weak, allowing it to surge forward.
